Dunn Out To Make Amends On Messene In G1
- Wednesday, 27 August 2014 07:53
Dwayne Dunn does not have fond memories of the last time he rode Messene.
But the jockey is intent on erasing that when he reunites with the exciting galloper in Australia's first Group One race of the season at Caulfield on Saturday.
"I rode him at Moonee Valley once first-up and he ran last," Dunn said.
Jockey Dwayne Dunn
However, the jockey was quick to point out it wasn't one of his best rides.
"I was 18-wide so I'll be looking to make amends for that on Saturday," he said.
Messene has risen through the ranks since his Moonee Valley flop in February last year and enters Saturday's Memsie Stakes (1400m) as a winner of seven of his past nine starts.
Having captured the Group Two Ajax Stakes last campaign, Messene resumed with a Missile Stakes placing in Sydney and Dunn can't wait to reunite with him in his Melbourne return.
The weight-for-age Memsie has attracted a strong line up with six individual Group One winners among the 11 acceptors.
They include track specialist Moment Of Change, the Chris Waller-trained Boban and star New Zealand mare Silent Achiever.
Messene's only previous start in Group One company was in the Doncaster Mile when he struggled in the wet conditions and finished seventh.
Dunn is convinced it won't be long before the Hawkes Racing galloper joins the ranks of big-race winners.
"From what everyone has seen I think he deserves to be a Group One winner and I think it's only a matter of time before that box gets ticked," Dunn said.
"I'd say he'll be very hard to beat on Saturday. He's got a good barrier and is back on top of the ground. I expect him to run really well."
Messene has opened favourite at $4 with TAB fixed odds, ahead of Boban at $4.80 and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Sweet Idea at $5.
Along with Memsie rivals Dissident and Boban, Messene was withdrawn from last week's Warwick Stakes in Sydney due to the heavy track, instead heading south in search of firmer ground.
